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[Orion Michaels]

Orion That was a relief. He’d not expected her to relent and return. There was no sense in burning this bridge so soon and sometimes he was grateful he could talk pretty smooth some of the times. If a woman died because of their squabbling, well, it wouldn’t have looked very good upon him at all. Hopefully, if only for the time it took them to work, they could put aside whatever venom was carried and simply work. Orion was painfully aware he was the cause of their bad blood in the first place, but this wasn’t the place to resolve that. “Thanks, Min,” he said, nodding in acknowledgement of what was probably not her favorite choice. “Whatever I’ve got, it’s in my pack. Go ahead and check on that, see if it’s there, and I’ll go on cleaning this out. When you finish that up, get the iron warming over in the brazier so we can close the wound up afterwards.” Again and again he flushed the wound using one hand, the other maintaining a constant pressure on her inner thigh. The blood loss was manageable at this point, though truth be told, Orion was unsure if that was due to his work or a simple lack of the fluid. “I’ll apply the salve to the interior once it is prepared, and then I’ll step aside and have you cauterize it shut. Then we’ll start trying to get some fluids in her to replace the ones she has lost. Any questions..Doctor?” He gave the woman a wry smile and awaited the medicine. The intensity in the room had decreased greatly, and it certainly made for smoother working. It was possible that his outburst had relieved his own stress, though at the expense of others. His attention was shifted elsewhere as he noticed something on the woman that he must have skimmed over as he was diagnosing the wounds. “Min…are those brands?” The marks of a slave? Well, in Syliras, a slave she would be no longer, thought it was troublesome. Nothing good ever came of dealing with them . . .

[Min]

Min’s mind raced as she inventoried what was in the pack. To make a salve, one really needed time – several weeks to infuse the herbs in oil, and then an hour or so to melt the fatty base, and mix in the oil and cool it back to a silky paste. But they didn’t have time – the girl didn’t – so Min settled for a jar of oil. It was going into the wound anyway, as opposed to something that would be a coating on the skin. So perhaps the viscosity would not be of such great importance. Rummaging a bit more, she came across a packet that, when opened, revealed the feathery shaped leaves of the plant the old woman in the bazaar had shown to her - yarrow! Triumphantly, Min added it to the already pulverized rosemary and ground away like crazy. Dumping the herbs straight into the wound was far from the best application, but they had no other way, not at this critical juncture. Hopefully the cauterizing might have its own sterilizing effect on the torn flesh. It seemed this girl would just have to have the luck sometimes granted by the gods to survive this frontier style treatment. When she had ground the plant matter as finely as she could, Min mixed it into the oil. At that point, Orion had remarked about the tattoos he saw on the girl’s skin. Min was just setting the cauterizing iron into the flames of the brazier on the counter, and she then stepped over to see what he was talking about. Just below the girl’s collar bone was a mark – but Orion was right – it was burned into the girl’s skin, not inked on. Min bent closely and could just decipher a series of letters – E Jordan – or so it looked like to her. The word, or one letter and a separate word, as it seemed to be, meant nothing to Min, and she did not immediately recognize it even as what it was – an initial and a last name. Her eyes dropped to the wrist and there was another word – Shiress. Min frowned. “E-jor-dan? Shir-ess? I do not know these words. Do they mean something?” Her fingers brushed lightly over the raised scars that had resulted from the brutal singeing of the girl’s flesh. “My people mark the skin, with ink, pictures. To tell a story. But, these are burnt – do you burn stories into your skin here, in this city?” She had brought the oil and herb mixture and she handed it to him as she still contemplated the marks. “This is not salve. There is not time for salve. It is not the best – but it is what I can do, here, now....Orion Doctor Michaels.”

[Orion Michaels]

Orion Orion took the oil from Min, scooping it from the container to apply it generously to the interior of the wound. This combinations of herbs would not only promote the healing of the injury itself, but gods be willing stop any infection from coming and taking the woman's life. It was always tough to put all the work into saving someone for it to be taken days later by the spread of it. Hopefully this would do the job. Sinewy flesh drank up the oil, desperate for any sort of refreshment, any respite from the dehydration and pain. This was what they could do. "E. Jordan," Orion repeated, studying the mark more closely. "It's a name. Actually, I think both of them are." A frown crept across his lips. He'd never actually dealt with slave marks before. Oh sure, he'd heard of them in his travels. But to see them up close like this cause his mouth to grow dry. "Was this what put her in the position to even get these wounds?" He spoke quietly to himself, thinking aloud. There was little to do until the iron was hot enough. "No, Min. Some people get tattoos, but these weren't willing. This means she was someone's property. This E. Jordan's slave." He paused, pondering her question for just a moment longer. "Actually, it tells a deeper story than we probably understand." He motioned for the tool needed for cauterizing the wound shut. "Check if that's ready." Turning his attention back to their patient, he muttered quietly. "Miss Shiress, what has happened to you?"

[Min]

Orion took the herb-oil mixture without comment or criticism, and applied it to the deep lacerations on the girl’s legs. He then remarked that he thought the brands on the girl’s upper chest and wrist were names, and that she was, or had been, enslaved. Min frowned. Her culture did not support slavery for the most part. In a skirmish with a foe, those taken prisoner were dispatched and eaten. And there was a strong work ethic amongst the Myrians, so any who did not work hard from dawn til dusk were not only scorned, they would probably be reprimanded pretty harshly and maybe even punished. So slaves were a bit superfluous. Beyond that racial bias, Min herself thought that individuals should live or die by their own efforts and slavery just didn’t fit into that construct. Why should a man, or woman, be allowed to gain wealth or power off sweat that did not come from his or her own brow? But she said nothing of this, instead going to check on the iron as instructed. It glowed red at the tip, and she said to the young man in a sobering tone, “Hold her down. Even if her mind is asleep, her body will not like this and she may jump.” Bringing the iron to Orion, she said simply, “I think it is ready.”

[Richard Burke]

Richard had heard about having wound cauterized, even some of the other squires have had to have it done, training to be a knight was a dangerous job, he had heard it was painful, and that the smell of burning flesh was less than pleasant, but here and now, this young woman, on her first day of the city would feel the cruel heat of iron for the second time in her life, this time as a free woman, for all that was worth to her now. The squire nodded his head, and stepped forward, his time for talking was done, his peace had been given, and he was assured that these two doctors could save this woman’s life, so he would do what they asked, no matter the cost to him.

Richard place his left forearm just below the neck, and his right one along the waist, he applied force, not enough to crush, but hopefully enough to keep the woman still if she struggled when the iron touched her skin. He couldn’t hold her all down, “I wont be able to keep her feet and legs down.” He stated, to the doctors, hinting that they might need a second person to hold them.

[Orion Michaels]

Orion "Min, you secure her legs as well. I don't think our friend here can hold her entirely still, like he said. I'm expecting an involuntary reaction to the heat, so we'll need to restrain her as much as possible." Grasping the iron by its handle, Orion turned to their patient, ready to work. After receiving acknowledgement that the two others were ready, he prepared to begin the procedure. Slowly he moved the heated metal towards her wound, the warmth kissing her twisted flesh. "This is gonna be rank." The sizzle of burning flesh, but moreso the stench, filled the air as he pressed the hot metal against her skin. "The key is," he said matter of factly, "to do it one or two ticks at a time." Orion placed the flat object against her leg, waited a few moments, lifted it, and repeated again, over and over, stop only long enough for the others to make sure Shiress didn't move. "Keep her still. What we're doing is closing the wound, but making sure that we don't damage any of her still healthy tissue." The process was slow, agonizing, horrid, but necessary. Sealing the wound with those cleansing herbs within it was really their only shot. "Not my favorite way to go about it, but it's what we've got. It'll leave some pretty nasty marks on her leg, but it's better than dying." Once he finished his last application of the tool, the blue eyed doctor set it aside and wiped the sweat from his brow. "And that's that. Not too difficult," he deadpanned, turning from the group to go wash his hands in the basin. "I believe that's all I'll be needed for. It's been an absolute riot, let me tell you." It hadn't been. It was nothing but stressful, that's what it was. So Orion didn't play well with others. "A doctor, a Myrian, and a slave walked into a bar," he muttered to himself. "Throw in a tough guy and we've got a real show stopper..." It was time to go. "Min, take it from here? Looks like that head injury needs cared for. Bleeding pretty bad, but that's the case with any cut up there. I'm sure our master swordsman will make sure there is payment for services rendered." With that, Orion turned and left the room.

[Min]

The young man did as he was bid and Min did as well, handing over the hot iron and moving to the girl’s feet. With both hands on her ankles, Min held on, prepared to do her best to prevent motions that would simply end up injuring the girl the more. She hoped Orion would not have to repeat his unorthodox technique for rendering his patient unconscious. But in the end, the cauterization went smoothly. Min watched, unblinking, as Orion applied the red hot metal in small licks, explaining as he went. It was a technique Min was familiar with – at least as far as having seen it done. She hadn’t yet tried her own hand at it though, so she simply watched carefully, noting Orion’s style and the timing of it. She had already prepared a cloth and a basin of cool water and as he moved along the wound, she followed with application of the wet cloth to cool down the seared flesh. It was a lengthy process, but finally, he reached the end of the gashes and it was done. Min breathed a bit more easily, in that the patient had remained unconscious throughout, which was all to the good for both her own sake and that the doctor did not have to deal with any flailing limbs. Orion put aside the cauterizing rod and quickly excused himself, with some sort of confusing, cryptic remark which she did not understand - leaving Min to attend to the wound on Shiress’ head. Min fetched a basin of clean water and a new cloth, and came to the girl’s head. For the first time since entering the room some while ago, she smiled – a smile meant to reassure the young man who now was looking quite pale. “You did well. You are brave, and kind. She will live, I think,” Min said in a positive tone. “Pull her hair back while I look at this cut.” Her voice, like Orion’s, could be authoritative, but hers was underscored with some pity for all the young man had been through, having to witness and participate in the girl’s treatment. It was the work of a few minutes to tend to the abrasion on the side of Shiress’ forehead. More of a grazing blow, there was nothing to stitch shut. So Min simply washed it and applied some of the oil and herb mixture to stem the blood flow. She then applied a pressure bandage and secured it in place. Calling for two of the spa staff to come and assist, with Richard’s help they then moved the still unconscious girl to a real bed, in a quiet room. Giving instructions for the cleaning of the treatment room, Min pulled up a stool beside the bed in which the pathetic Shiress lay, quiescent for the moment. Already, Min was planning out a tea to give her when she woke – to help calm her for the pain would be intense, and to promote healing. She might even need a narcotic to keep her asleep, or drowsy, if the pain proved too great for her to bear. But for now, she remained still, her eyes shut, her breathing labored. But…at least she was breathing, thanks to Orion Michaels.

[Accolade]

Shiress

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Wakening to the mystery of pain
•	Location - Syliras
•	Saved by a squire
•	Remembering the Zith attack

Richard Burke

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 3 XP
Intimidation	+ 1 XP
Persuasion	+ 1 XP
Chivalry	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Barely a squire and already out to save the day
•	Ouch! cauterizing wounds looks painful
•	Shiress -Left for dead
•	Orion: Rough with patients
•	Min: The Doctor in Training

Orion Michaels

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 3 XP
Interrogation	+ 1 XP
Leadership	+ 3 XP
Teaching	+ 3 XP
Persuasion	+ 1 XP
Medicine	+ 4 XP
Rhetoric	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Another day, another flirt
•	Sedation technique -thwack!
•	Shiress- the wounded was once a slave
•	Medical Technique: Cauterizing a Wound
•	Applying pressure to stay blood lost
•	Min Lacks Medical Terminology
•	Using oil to keep out infection

Min

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 3 XP
Medicine	+ 3 XP
Herbalism	+ 2 XP
Rhetoric	+ 1 XP
Negotiation	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	A desire to help
•	How to treat shock
•	Shiress-the wounded was once a slave
•	The difference between marks and tattoos
•	Cauterization techniques
•	Rosemary as a coagulant
•	Critical need to know medical lexicon in Common
•	Unorthodox means of rendering patient unconscious

Notes :

What a thread! Boy can you people write! Awesome guys I loved it all and you must keep it up now or else..So, I think I got everything, and I'll leave it up to Richard and Shiress but one of you owes Orion 7GM.

The Sylir has spoken

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.